It depends, most of the time, with creative, the cd has installation software that goes along with the driver. The website sometimes only contains the driver. So it all really depends. If the website has the full package, the website only. If the site only has the latest driver, then install from cd first, then the new driver. Hopefully you won't have any conflicting....

Creative = Worst driver support ever...-_-...Maybe not ever, but they are up there. 

It is always better to have the most up to date drivers in my opnion. Alot of people had issues with the drivers that usually came on the disk. me included. User beware mileage may vary 

Yeah they don't do many updates. I just installed from the CD and than periodically check their website for driver,utlilty and firmware updates.

 Do the disk install, I tried the web drivers first and they wouldn't even detect the X-FI, installed the disk drivers, then ran the web update and it went fine.

 When I installed mine I did the Web driver first, plus the other things availible off their site.

 I couldn't install anything off the CD due to its age (doesn't play well with x 64 Vista) but I don't think there really isn't anything important on there that you can't get off their site, or off the internet.

methious:

Do the disk install, I tried the web drivers first and they wouldn't even detect the X-FI, installed the disk drivers, then ran the web update and it went fine.

 What OS are you using?

Best modded drivers for X-fi and Audigy series are located here:

http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board?board.id=Vista

And the latest modded driver with applications can be found here:

http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=Vista&thread.id=29198&page=1 

Have you tried those drivers I mentioned ? 

 I'm trying to get my X-Fi working in Ubuntu. I hate Creative, they promised drivers for Linux then released some half assed beta ones coincedentally only a few people can get working. Like with most companies I have to depend on the open source community drivers.

Dev 

Same problem here Dev. I had it working once with the ALSA drivers but performance in games was horrid. I eventually took out the X-Fi card and enabled onboard sound. Haven't had a problem yet with Ubuntu or XP with the Realtek 7.1 onboard sound.

I think from here on out, I'm going to stick with onboard sound and save myself some money. Sound card technology has basically grinded to a halt anyway and any future improvements will most likely be undetectable by my meager human ears.

I can notice a good amount of difference between my onboard and my x-fi but then again they have improved much on the onboard audio since my board was released. I do think it's time for sound card companies to get with the program and give us something new and juicey to drool over. I am anxious to test out the new HD onboard audio on some of these newer boards though.